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Yalta Conference
The Yalta Conference was a meeting of the Big Three in hopes of planning out post war Europe. The conference was successful until promises made strained relationships. The Soviet Union promised The United States promised it would aid America in the fight against Japan and in return America would give Stalin the southern half of Sakhalin Island. However, when the time came for Russia’s aid, The United States no longer needed their help. This led to mistrust between the two countries. -
Lend-Lease Acts
In 1945, relationships were further strained between the US and the Soviet Union when America terminated its lend-lease aid to a USSR but then turned around and aided Britain to a similar loan. -
Oil-Rich Iran
Once again, a failure to keep promises created more tension. In 1946, the Soviets broke their promise to remove troops from Iran’s northernmost province. This created a fear that communism was too expansionary. -
Marshall Plan
In order to fix European economic problems, Europe eagerly accepted the Marshall Plan. This plan would even aid the Soviet Union; however, in order to receive aid the Soviets would be forced to make several political reforms. Knowing they wouldn’t like this, America issued difficult reforms to accept forcing the USSR to back out of the plan. -
Truman Doctrine
In 1947, Truman asked congress to grant $400 million dollars in order to support Greece and Turkey. While over exaggerating the threat of communism, this money would irritate and block off Soviet expansion into the Mediterranean. -
Loyalty Program
In 1947, Truman established a loyalty program that would chase out any form of communism support in America. This program rooted from the Red Scare forced many to fear communism even at home. This program was controversial, yet still allows as many handed over their rights in fear of communism. -
Berlin airlift
In 1948, disputes over German currency reform led the soviets to build the Berlin Wall. This wall was used to cut off supplies from Berlin and hopefully choke them out. However, America viewed this as wrong and aided Berlin by airlifting supplies. This led to tension between the Soviets and the United States as their views clashed -
Executive Order 9981
The race against Communism meant America had to stay true to its original values. In order to set an example and fight communism the Executive Order 9981 was issued. This order banned any discrimination and desegregated armed forces. -
North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)
NATO was joined by the Truman Administration taking America out of its old ways of isolationism and move it towards global militarization. This would threaten the motives of Germans and upset Russia as they America would now be more involved and more powerful. -
Soviet Atomic Bomb
Panic skyrocketed when news of the Russian atomic bomb reached America. For once, American threats of atomic warfare was no longer one sided and both sides could easily destroy one another. -
NSC-68
The National Security Council Memorandum Number 68 suggested that America quadruple its defense spending. This was granted due to the conflict in Korea. However, the massive military buildup was way bigger than needed for Korea. The build up was really a safe guard from the Soviets rather than aid for Korea. Additionally, it fed the flames of the Cold War. -
Korean Independence
With the fall of Japan, both Russia and America wanted to give back Independence to Korea. However, both countries had different ideas of what that looked like. Creating two separate governments in North and South Korea, tensions rose as both side angered the other. The Soviets and Americans created a conflict when Soviet-made troops invaded the 38th parallel -
American Aid in the Korean War
To fight against the North Koreans, MacArthur launched an amphibious landing between enemy lines and forced North Korean back past the 38th parallel. These movements in the Korean War scared many that there could be a possible new player in the war. -
American Hydrogen Bomb
Anxious over the Soviet’s atomic bomb, America started developing a hydrogen bomb. This bomb would be even more powerful than the Atomic bomb. This armed race for the most powerful weapons created tension as one wrong move could create the biggest and most deadly war ever. The American Hydrogen bomb was complete in 1953 -
Soviet Hydrogen Bomb
In a little less than a year after the creation of the American H-Bomb, the Soviet Union exploded their first Hydrogen Bomb. This once again meant the race was tied and both nations poured money into more military technologies. -
Battle of Dien Bien Phu
This Vietnam battle was fought and won by nationalists of the country. Vietnam was struggling to identify its political leaders. In the efforts of creating their own government elections were held. However, with American aid, the promised unification elections were not held. Americans were once again aiding a country against communism (even when communism was desired). This led to even more dissent between the two political philosophies. -
Policy or Boldness
In order to liberate captive people’s and save money, the policy of boldness was issued. Eisenhower wanted to regulate the army and navy yet build up the Air Force with super bombers. This brought out retaliation from the Soviets -
Suez Canal
Egypt needed to build a dam for an essential irrigation and power system. In response both America and Britain offered help, yet when Egypt looked to the Soviets for help, America withdrew and Britain took over the Sues canal and nationalized it. This led to mistrust of European democracy. -
Sputnik
The Soviet Union launched the first satellite into space. Then a month later Sputnik II was launched. These breakthroughs frightened America as they feared they were falling behind. Americans feared they were no longer a superpower. Not to mention rocket fever swept the nation as many feared missiles could now reach America with the click of a button. -
Bay of Pigs Invasion
In this effort to overthrow Castro, 1,200 Cuban exiles landed at Cuba’s Bag of Pigs. They were quickly put down, as Kennedy decided to keep his hands off. However, these efforts combined with failed American attempts to assassinate Castro forced Cuba deeper into Soviet hands. -
Trade Embargo on Cuba
In 1961, America cut ties with Cuba after Castro took over and his dictatorship talked against the American way. Cuba supported the Soviets and found communism to be their solution. Disgusted with this, America implemented a strict trade embargo that nearly choked out the country. -
Peace Corps
Kennedy brought about a new way of approaching the Cold War. He organized the Peace Corps which allowed for voluntary army to go to undeveloped countries and teach them the America way. This new approach was still a fight against communism, yet was way more warm hearted and good natured. -
Cuban Missile Crisis
This 13 day confrontation was issued upon the American discovery that the Soviet Union had ballistic missiles in Cuba pointed towards America. This frightening discovery led America to place missiles in Turkey. The fate of both countries were in a click of a single button. -
Vietnam Conflicts
An American air base at Pleiku, South Vietnam, was attacked by loyal Vietnam communists in 1965. This attack brought America to bomb Vietnam. This once again was a fight against communism and its supporters. -
Attacks on Israel
Attacks on Israel burst into a Six-Day war when Syrians and Egyptians were armed by Soviets and surprised attacked Israel. This strained American relations with communists even more. -
Death of Leonid Ilyich Brezhnev
The death of Leonid Ilyich Brezhnev started the thawing of relations. Since Leonid Ilyich Brezhnev was the leader of the Soviet Union, the union found themselves with new leaders and a new idea of how to lead the USSR. This allowed for the USSR to become understanding to America. -
Fall of the Berlin Wall
The destruction and fall of the Berlin Wall was a symbol of hatred being destroyed. The Cold War was slowly fading away and strained relationships were being restored. The fall of the Berlin Wall show the world that Germany and Russia were beginning to get along and so was America.
